You Can Now Buy up American Airlines Elite Status [Is It Worth It?]

If you’re trying to earn elite status with American Airlines but don’t have enough Loyalty Points to reach the next tier, American is providing another way to get you there — albeit at a significant cost.

You’re now able to check and see whether you can buy up to the next status level without having to earn more Loyalty Points.

Here’s what you need to know.

Table of Contents

American Airlines’ Buy up Promotion Details
Final Thoughts

American Airlines’ Buy up Promotion Details

Normally, renewing elite status with American Airlines requires earning a certain amount of Loyalty Points, but there are many travelers who aren’t able to attain that level.

American is offering eligible travelers the opportunity to buy up their status through March 2024 so they don’t lose it completely, though there are some things you need to be aware of. To check your eligibility, log in to the buy-up promotion page with your AAdvantage loyalty number.

First and foremost, you can only buy up to one status level from where you’re currently at. For example, current Platinum Pro members who have only earned enough Loyalty Points to keep Gold status for the next year would only be able to buy up to Platinum — and not Platinum Pro — as you only have enough Loyalty Points for Gold status.

That said, if you’re Platinum Pro and have only earned enough for Platinum, you’ll also be able to use the buy-up offer to retain your current status of Platinum Pro.

AABA JFK Soho Lounge — Buying up to elite status may be worth it if you value lounge access on eligible itineraries. Image Credit: American Airlines

You also cannot use this offer to buy up to the coveted, invitation-only Concierge Key level.

There are also some other things you should know about this offer:

The offer is non-refundable.
The buy-up offer can change depending on how many Loyalty Points you can earn over the next few weeks. Therefore, if you’re earning more Loyalty Points soon, you can check back on your buy-up offer. Keep in mind that you need to earn status by the end of February 2023, so don’t cut it too close.
The amount you spend on any buy-up offer won’t earn you redeemable miles or Loyalty Points. The promotion simply purchases your new status.

The amount it will cost to buy up varies depending on how many Loyalty Points you have. In general, expect this buy-up offer to cost you a pretty penny, as the convenience won’t come cheap. You can assume that it will cost several thousands of dollars to upgrade or retain your status.

AA Buy Up 2023 Offer — It’ll likely cost you hundreds (if not, thousands) of dollar to buy up the next level of status. Image Credit: American Airlines

Hot Tip: If you decide to take advantage purchase is made directly through American Airlines, so you’ll want to use a credit card that earns bonus points on American Airlines or travel purchases.

Final Thoughts

If retaining American Airlines status is important to you, you may want to consider this offer if you otherwise won’t earn enough Loyalty Points in time. While American Airlines elite status can be valuable for many, the hefty price tag of these buy-up offers may also be out of reach for many travelers.